Ruben III facts for kids

Roupen III (born 1145 – died May 6, 1187) was an important ruler of a place called Armenian Cilicia. He was the ninth lord there, ruling from 1175 to 1187. He was known for being a fair and kind leader. Roupen was also a friend to the Crusaders, who were European knights traveling to the Holy Land. He built many religious places in his lands.

Becoming a Leader

Roupen was the oldest son of Stephen. His grandfather was Leo I, another important leader of Armenian Cilicia. His mother was Rita, whose father Sempad was a lord from Barbaron.

Sadly, Roupen's father, Stephen, was killed in 1165. He was on his way to a big dinner hosted by a Byzantine governor. After this, Roupen went to live with his uncle, Pagouran. His uncle was the lord of the strong fortress of Barbaron, which protected a mountain pass called the Cilician Gates.

Roupen became the leader of Cilicia in 1175. This happened after his uncle, Mleh, was killed by some of his own Armenian nobles. Roupen was a friend to the Franks, which was another name for the Crusaders. For example, in 1177, he helped Philip, Count of Flanders and Prince Bohemond III of Antioch during a siege of a city called Harenc.

He was an excellent prince, compassionate and kind; he ruled the country very well, and was praised by everybody.

—Vahram of Edessa: The Rhymed Chronicle of Armenia Minor

Challenges and Alliances

In 1180, two powerful leaders, Saladin from Egypt and Kilij Arslan II from Iconium, met and formed an alliance. They soon launched a short attack against Roupen III. They said it was because Roupen had treated some Turkoman tribes badly. Roupen quickly made peace with Kilij Arslan II that same year. Around this time, many nobles from the Principality of Antioch came to Roupen's court. They were unhappy with Sybilla, the new wife of Bohemond III.

In early 1181, Roupen went on a special trip to Jerusalem. There, on February 4, 1181, he married Isabella of Toron. She was the daughter of Humphrey III of Toron and Stephanie of Milly.

Later in 1182, the Byzantine governor of Cilicia, Isaac Komnenos, was rebelling against his emperor. He asked Bohemond III for help against Roupen. Isaac even let Bohemond's troops into the city of Tarsus. However, Bohemond changed his mind. He sold Tarsus and the governor to Roupen, but then he regretted it. Isaac Komnenos was later set free by the Knights Templar.

Capture and Release

In 1183, a lord named Hethum III of Lampron teamed up with Bohemond III to attack Roupen. They invited Roupen to Antioch, pretending they wanted to end the fighting between their families. But when Roupen arrived, he was captured and put in prison.

However, Roupen's brother, Leo, fought back. He conquered the lands of Hethum and attacked Antioch. To get Roupen released, a large payment was needed. Roupen also had to agree that the cities of Adana and Mamistra would become vassals (meaning they would owe loyalty) to Antioch.

When Roupen returned to Cilicia, he quickly got his cities back. Bohemond III tried to attack again, but he didn't achieve anything important.

Later Life and Family

Roupen eventually decided to step down as ruler. He gave the crown to his brother, Leo. Roupen then retired to the Drazark monastery, where he passed away.

On his return to his own country Rouben was kind and humane to every one, and at his death left the crown to Leon; he gave him many rules concerning the government of the country, and committed to him his daughters, with an injunction not to give them foreign husbands, that the Armenians might not be governed by foreigners and harassed by a tyrant.

—Vahram of Edessa: The Rhymed Chronicle of Armenia Minor

Roupen's Children

Roupen III and Isabella of Toron had two daughters:

• Alice (born 1182 – died after 1234): She married three times. Her husbands were Hethum of Sassoun, Count Raymond IV of Tripoli, and Vahram of Korikos.
• Philippa (born 1183 – died before 1219): She also married twice. Her husbands were Shahanshah of Sassoun and Theodore I Laskaris, who was an emperor of Nicaea.